Chapter Seven: Hey Brother

The wait until evening seemed one of the longest Spencer Reid had ever experienced. He paced around the boardroom like a caged animal, peering up at the clock on the wall every few seconds as though he could somehow force time to move faster, fueled with nothing but caffeine and anxiety.

"Why don't you sit down, Kid?" Morgan asked as he lounged in one of the chairs positioned around the large circular table in the center of the room, "You're gonna make yourself dizzy."

Reid shook his head and continued pacing.

Morgan and Hotchner had returned two hours and fifty-three minutes ago- Reid knew because he'd been watching the clock- followed shortly by JJ and Prentiss at three hours and ten minutes.

All four agents had been briefed on what had occurred during Sam's interview with Dr. Messer and Agent Fan's idea of having the brothers meet up that evening, after hours.

Although Hotch was reluctant to have his team interfering in the Winchesters' case anymore than they already were he couldn't say no to Dr. Reid. Especially when the young man gave a very convincing argument.

Agent Fan had left the team to rejoin her own, with the promise that she would text them when Peterson, Clayton and hopefully- and most importantly- Lamb left for the night.

Despite Sam's increasing breakdown, the team was confident in the evidence they had gathered that day. Morgan and Hotch had it on good authority that the Impala would arrive by tomorrow evening and JJ and Prentiss were certain the DNA test from St. Louis would be ready by the end of the week.

While they waited for the floor to clear out, the members of the team not pacing the room in agitation were going over the accident report Garcia had received from Maitland, Missouri.

"This is excellent," Rossi spoke up, handing the page he'd just finished reading to JJ, "Once Dean's car arrives, it will be even better."

Hotch nodded as he read but did not speak.

Reid, too wound up to read, continued to watch the clock.

W

At eight forty-nine pm Agent Fan sent Reid a text, letting him know that Lamb was finally leaving the building.

"Took him long enough," Morgan grumbled. As soon as he'd heard the plan, he'd insisted he go with Reid and Fan.

"Are you sure you want to go, Spence?" JJ asked and the young doctor nodded.

"Sam's my friend," he said, "Even if I can't help him, I feel like I should be there."

Morgan put an arm around Reid's shoulders, "I'm sure he'll be fine once he knows Dean's there."

The doctor nodded and the two agents moved towards the door, peering out into the empty bullpen, the lights dimmed for the night but not completely dark for anyone staying late.

Across the open space, the elevator doors opened and Agent Fan stepped out alone. She paused before waving in the direction of the boardroom to let them know the coast was clear.

Morgan opened the door and was nearly pushed aside by an overzealous Reid. The dark-skinned agent chuckled and was about to speak before he saw the determined expression on the younger man's face and decided now was not the time to joke.

Morgan followed Reid as the younger agent walked around the catwalk towards Agent Fan. Once they were within a range where she could speak without raising her voice, the female agent smiled slightly, "I didn't think Carter was ever going to leave."

"What took him so long?" Morgan asked.

"He was calling everyone he knew to try and get Sam's hearing moved up," Agent Fan's smile faltered, "It didn't really work though, since Dr. Messer hasn't even completed her paperwork yet."

Reid looked up sharply, his brown eyes slightly panicked.

"Don't worry, Kid," Morgan assured him, "Sam's not going anywhere. We'll have all the evidence we need by the end of the week and we can show it to Strauss and Davis as soon as it's ready, even if we have to stay over the weekend."

Reid nodded, looking a little more relaxed.

"I just keep thinking that Lamb's going to find a loophole and send Sam to a hospital sooner than we expect," he muttered.

"Well let's see if Dean can't help Sam tonight," Agent Fan said and pressed the button for the elevator.

Once the doors to the lift opened, all three agents stepped inside. The doors slid shut and the trio was carried down to a lower floor.

SPN

Dean looked up, surprised to see so many FBI agents standing in front of his cell.

"Uh… Are we having a party or something?" he asked jokingly as Agent Fan unlocked the door.

"Agent Lamb had a psychologist interview Sam today," she said, "And it didn't go well."

Dean frowned and peered anxiously at the agent.

"What happened?" Dean asked, fear in his voice.

"Everything seemed to be going well," Agent Fan told Dean, "But then Dr. Messer mentioned the video evidence against you and Sam, and she just lost him. It was as though he was having a conversation with himself or someone only he could see. He wasn't answering her and became even more agitated."

"What happened?" Dean asked again. Did Sam go catatonic? Did he have a seizure? He needed to know.

"Dr. Messer tried to talk to Sam," Agent Fan continued, "She tried getting his attention by saying his name but nothing was working. Then Agent Lamb and I came into the room."

Dean's face darkened and he crossed his arms over his chest, knowing nothing good could come of Agent Douchebag being in the same room as his brother.

"Lamb wanted to take Sam back to his cell but Dr. Messer told him he shouldn't, not when he was struggling," Agent Fan told him, "But Lamb ignored her and grabbed your brother's arm."

Dean sneered, hating the thought that the agent had touched his brother.

"After that, Sam seemed to get better," Agent Fan finished, "He appeared disoriented but he was speaking to Dr. Messer. We took him back to his cell shortly after that."

"I'm going to rip his lungs out!" Dean snarled, hating the arrogant agent even more by the second.

The agents gave the hunter concerned looks and Dean sighed, raking a hand through his short hair.

"Sorry," he muttered, "Its just… Knowing that agent has plans to send Sammy to a rubber room irritates me."

"Sounds like it does a little more than irritate you," Morgan commented.

"So what are you all doing here anyway?" the hunter asked, changing the subject.

"We're going to bring you to Sam," Reid told him and Dean's face lit up like a child's at Christmas.

The agents moved out of the way and Dean walked out of the cell, then turned, unsure of which direction to go.

"This way," Agent Fan said and started off to the left.

Dean followed right on her heels but then quickly overtook her.

Morgan and Reid looked at one another but let it slide, the man just wanted to see his brother and besides, they could have Garcia fix the security footage later.

Dean peered into every cell he passed, his heart hammering in his chest, desperately wanting to see Sam.

They passed so many empty cells the hunter had the sudden idea that his brother wasn't in one, that somehow his sibling had vanished without anyone knowing, and then Dean stopped.

"Sammy," Dean reached up and gripped the bars on his brother's cell, peering into the small space.

Sam was sitting on the metal-framed bed, leaning against the wall, his hair covering his face. He did not stir at the sound of his brother's voice.

"Sam!" Dean said, louder this time as the agents caught up with him, "Sammy!"

It's too late, a voice spoke in the hunter's head, sounding unpleasantly like Lucifer; you're too late, Dean.

As soon as Agent Fan unlocked the door, without even giving her a chance to pull the key back out, Dean shoved the door open and was at his sibling's side.

"Sammy," Dean murmured, reaching up to brush his sibling's hair away from his face. The younger man's eyes were closed but when he felt Dean's touch he looked up.

"Dean?" he asked quietly, "Is it-"

Dean smiled and put both hands on his brother's face, "It's really me, Sammy."

The look of relief in his sibling's eyes nearly broke Dean's heart.

"How're you feeling?" Dean asked and Sam lifted his right shoulder in a shrug, wincing in pain as he did so.

From the corner of his eye, Dean spotted the tray with his brother's dinner sitting untouched on it.

"Sammy, hey, you didn't eat anything," he said, once again looking into his sibling's face, "You have to eat."

Sam's glanced down, "I know. But Lucifer…"

The younger man didn't finish and Dean nodded, "I know, Sammy."

The older hunter sighed, "I can't stay long."

Sam looked up at him, his expression panicked, "But…"

"I can't," Dean repeated, "I'm sorry."

"Dean," Sam whimpered, his eyes growing wet. He lifted a hand to his brother's, "Don't leave me again."

The older Winchester swallowed painfully, "I have to, Sammy. Just for a little while. Then I'll be back and I won't leave you again. I promise."

"Dean," Sam spoke again but Dean shook his head, "Let me talk a minute."

"You doing the 'hand trick' on your shoulder?" he asked and Sam nodded, "I know I shouldn't but it helps."

"Keep doing it whenever you see Lucifer, okay? For as long as it works," Dean told him and Sam nodded, his eyes wide.

"And remember," Dean leaned forward so that his forehead touched his brother's, "We got you out. Right? So whenever that S.O.B tries to convince you otherwise, you tell him to go fuck himself."

Sam smiled slightly and nodded, "Okay, Dean."

"And Sammy," Dean stood up, not wanting to get the agents in trouble but reluctant to leave his brother; he kept his hands on either side of his sibling's face, "Please try and eat something and sleep when you can. Will you do that for me?"

"I'll try," Sam assured him, now standing too and following Dean as he turned, "Dean… Please…"

The older brother didn't turn around, his heart breaking every time his sibling spoke his name.

"I'll see you soon, Sammy," Dean told him, "That's a promise."

"Please don't go," Sam begged, his voice thick.

Dean stepped across the threshold and into the hallway. Without stopping he started down the corridor back towards his cell.

"Dean! DEAN!" Sam's voice called out after the group and the hunter had to force himself not to run back.

He'll be okay, he told himself, he's strong. He'll be all right for a few more days. It won't be that much longer. He'll get through this.

Back in his own cell, Dean lie down on his lumpy mattress and put his pillow over his head so he wouldn't have to listen to his brother anymore.

Author's Note:

Chapter title comes from a song by Avicii.

Thanks to princessbinas, Slytherin Studios, scootersmom, QueenBea93, reannablue, daisyschmitt7, whatnosheep, Trucklady53, Catherine, BranchSuper, Sallyannerenee, and SamDeanLover28 for reviewing.

I know this chapter wasn't as long as the others, and nothing really exciting happened in it But I thought that this would be a good place to stop. At least you guys and gals got some brotherly love in this chapter!

I'll try and post again as soon as I can. Please take a moment to leave a review!